54 | MARCH 3 • 2022
Looking Back
From the William Davidson Digital Archive of Jewish Detroit History
accessible at www.djnfoundation.org
Sholem Aleichem Institute:
All Things Yiddish
R
ecently, I wrote about Sholem
Aleichem (1859-1916), the famous
Yiddish writer of stories and plays.
During my research on Aleichem in the
William Davidson Digital Archive of Jewish
Detroit History, I ran across hundreds of
references to his namesake organization: the
Sholem Aleichem Institute.
The Sholem Aleichem
Institute (SAI) has existed in
Detroit for 97 years. Its pri-
mary goal has been, and still
is “to perpetuate the use of
the Yiddish language and love
of Yiddishkeit.” In short, the
Yiddish language and culture in
all its forms. It currently provides educational
programming and cultural activities as a sec-
ular Jewish institution “without walls.” During
this era of COVID-19, for example, SAI pre-
sentations have continued via Zoom digital
meetings.
The nearly 100-year history of the institute
speaks to many facets of the development of
Detroit’s Jewish community. It was originally
established in 1925 as the Yidishe Folkshule
Farein (Yiddish People’s School Organization)
to provide American-born, English-speaking
Jewish children with a secular Yiddish edu-
cation. The motto of the school was: “The
Jewish child belongs to the Jewish people.”
Former student, now prominent Jewish
Detroit lawyer and community leader Eugene
Driker, summed-up SAI’s origins: “It provided
a rich cultural anchor for that group of East
European immigrants who sought a secular
home, grounded in the Yiddish language, lit-
erature and culture.”
The organization soon became known
as the Umparteishe Folk-shul Geselshaft (Non-
Partisan People’s School Community) and
purchased a house on Kenilworth Street
in Detroit in 1926. Shortly after, a Kinder
Teater or children’s theater was built at the
rear of the house. A new, larger building on
Greenfield Avenue was purchased in 1957.
The first educators hired in 1926 were
Moishe Haar, Chaim Pomeranz and Chaim
Bendore. They were joined in 1927 by
Shloime Bercovich, formerly of the Sholem
Aleichem Institute in New York, who became
the organization’s first director. Eventually,
there were three additional schools, with cur-
riculums ranging from nursery and elemen-
tary grades to high school.
Moishe Haar (1898-1966) became one of
best-known Jewish educators and theatrical
directors in Detroit. Upon his passing, JN
publisher/editor Philip Slomovitz noted
that Haar left a “noble heritage, having
inspired many to carry on the tasks of
perpetuating Jewish knowledge” (Aug. 21,
1966, JN).
The Umparteishe Folk-shul Geselshaft was
renamed the Sholem Aleichem Institute
in 1929. Two years later, the SAI elect-
ed a board and its first president, Isaac
Finkelstein, a linkage that leads to current
institute director, Hilary Duberstein, and
board chair, Geoffrey Nathan.
Women were instrumental in the early
success of the SAI. The first Women’s Yiddish
Reading Circle was established in 1926. It
soon developed into a Women’s Institute
led by Ida Kamaroff, the “Mother of SAI.”
Frances Driker (and husband, Charles) was
also an important leader of SAI. At its 70th
anniversary celebration, Frances Driker,
Sarah Freidman, Esther LaMed, and Esther
and Peter Shifrin were the special honorees
(Oct. 4, 1996).
Many Jewish Detroiters have sup-
ported SAI as it evolved over the years.
Many, many more have benefited from
the institute’s programs. My friend
Eugene Driker believes the future for
SAI is bright: “With a renewed interest
in Yiddish being expressed today by
young Jews, there is a clear opportunity
for SAI to serve a meaningful role in
our community.”
May it last another century.
Mike Smith
Alene and
Graham Landau
Archivist Chair